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Topic Review (Newest First)

03-04-2014 01:36 PM

LaRen616

Does he have a lot of room in his crate?

I would put him in a smaller crate, one where he can stand up, turn around and lie down but nothing more. Have you checked for a UTI?

I would let him out every 30 minutes to an hour when home.

03-04-2014 01:24 PM

jewels04

My 4 month old puppy had this same problem it was very discouraging. We were withholding water before bed, I started getting up 3-4 times during the night with her and usually having to clean her crate out twice at night. She was drinking so much water but had no UTI.

Finally my boss, who is a vet, asked if anything changed around the time this started. I said she switched foods but she has started on her second bag already. My boss suggested I go back to the food I was feeding her before the problems started and add some canned food in. So I did that and within 2 days she stopped all pee accidents in her crate and she drinks much less water a day now. Also she sleeps entirely through the night 10-4 than goes out when my husband leaves for work than she sleeps until I get up at 6:30 to get my kids ready for school.

03-02-2014 04:04 PM

A girl and her dog

Another thing - put a bell on your door. I've heard this works well for dogs to alert you that they want to go out. So far, my cat started using it with no training; the dogs... well, we're working on it.

And as someone else said - go out with him every time. I know a person whose dog is let out first thing in the am and would go straight for her ball and play for a while, then come inside and do her business in her usual spots. I recommended the same thing to her - take her on a leash every time, even in your fenced back yard. I say the same to you That way, you can se to it that he's doing his business and monitor things. Go back inside as soon as he pees and/or poos. At first, I'd bring the treats out with you to treat him on the spot and later just do them inside. This method helps reinforce that they're out there for a reason and there's 'business' to attend to. I don't linger with mine outside either. As soon as they start to play or get distracted a couple of times, we go back in and try again in 30 min or so depending on how long it's been since they actually relieved themselves.

03-02-2014 03:38 PM

A girl and her dog

I second the one that said go back to puppy basics. Retrain him like he's just arrived. You'll have to erase your expectations of him to ease your frustration; forget that you've ever worked on potty training with him before.

If you're unable to close him off, can you tether him to you? That is a pretty good method and works for the most part.

You could also get a 'belly band' for use in or out of the kennel. This will help save your floors, and him from soiling his fur. I think in the crate, it helps reinforce cleanliness. I used one on my pup and if it was too loose, he would tee in it, if I had it pretty snug, he would hold it. Take it off, of course, when you go outside. Don't try to rely on the band and just let him use it; it's just a good tool to keep the odor and mess down. - Good luck!

03-02-2014 01:14 PM

Mikelia

I had a border collie cross that was a nightmare to kennel train. She housebroke in the house relatively well as I never gave her opportunity to make mistakes. But in the kennel was a different story - almost every time I would leave her in a kennel she would mess. I tried everything and she just didn't care. I was at my wits end when she was in the smallest crate suitable for her size and I would find her laying upside down in her poop. NOT FUN. It was not an infection, nor separation, she just seemed to have no desire to hold it and didn't mind being in it.
I put her in a much larger kennel, too big for her (with a gsd you might need to use an xpen attached to a kennel) so that she had opportunity to get out of her mess and re learn clean behaviours. Eventually this worked, but it took time. She eventually started pooping in her blanket and rolling it up and pushing it to the back of her kennel. I took this as progress as at least she was trying to stay out of the mess. Eventually took away the blanket and she eventually stopped messing in her crate. It took a long time though. Wish you luck.

03-02-2014 12:20 PM

MaggieRoseLee

You are acting like he's a human and 'just doesn't care'.

That's not what's going on.

He's not housebroken. Not in the crate, not in the house.

Once you KNOW that, and unless it is medical (and you said it's not) then this is JUST a training issue that is on YOU.

If I were you, I'd just go back to Day One like he's an 8 week old puppy just hitting your home and not housebroken. And all that involves for YOU.

Baby gates and closed doors to keep him in the room with you ALWAYS, if he has an accident it is YOUR fault if you weren't standing right there when he starts to 'uh uh' and take him outside.

100% of the time when he goes outside YOU GO OUTSIDE. You need the reinforcement and puppy parties when he is RIGHT and going outside.

Keep in mind some pups are housebroken fast,, and some are not (mine crate train pretty fast but take alot longer to be 100% in the house, as in months...). But the more we do OUR part for the training the faster things start to improve.

BTW, make sure you really clean the crate and areas in the house with the enzymatic cleaner stuff to remove the odors the dogs can still smell.

03-02-2014 11:05 AM

zmac399

Not new behavior he's always done this its not everyday very often. In the house he's ok but will still pee every now and then but I let him out often. It's like he just doesn't care if he has to pee he just does then lays in it

I have a year gsd that pees in his crate and will just lay in it. I've limited his water at night and it doesn't matter if it's an hour or 6 hours when he has to pee he goes and I'm over it. Also he does not have a urinary track infection. Anyone ever delt with this or have any idea what to do?????